64th Primetime Emmy Awards


The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, honoring the best in prime time television programming from June 1, 2011 until May 31, 2012, were held on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California. ABC televised the ceremony in the United States. Comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Primetime Emmys for the first time. Kimmel and Kerry Washington announced the nominations on July 19, 2012. Nick Offerman was originally scheduled to co-announce the nominations, but had to cancel due to travel delays. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony was held on September 15 and was televised on September 22, 2012 on ReelzChannel.
The award for Outstanding Drama Series went to Showtime crime drama Homeland, the first for that network, and which broke Mad Mens four-year hold on the award; while the Outstanding Comedy Series award went for the third year in a row to ABC's Modern Family. This was the first ceremony that none of the four major American broadcasting TV networks were nominated in the categories of Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. For Britain, the ceremony was noted for the successes of actors Damian Lewis of Homeland and Maggie Smith of Downton Abbey.
Of the latter, Dame Maggie not only was PBS' first win in her category, she had won the previous year, for the same role in another category. Hers was also the first win in a major acting category for a Drama Series for PBS since 1975.
Mad Men set a new record for the largest "shutout" in Emmy history, receiving nominations for 17 awards and winning none. This broke the previous record of 16 nominations without a win, set by Northern Exposure in 1993.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold:
, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series winner
, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series winner
, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winner
, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner
, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie winner
, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie winner
, Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program winner

Programs

Outstanding Comedy SeriesOutstanding Drama Series

  • Modern Family
  • * 30 Rock
  • * The Big Bang Theory
  • * Curb Your Enthusiasm
  • * Girls
  • * Veep
  • Homeland
  • * Boardwalk Empire
  • * Breaking Bad
  • * Downton Abbey
  • * Game of Thrones
  • * Mad Men
    • Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy SeriesOutstanding Miniseries or Movie
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • * The Colbert Report
  • * Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • * Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
  • * Real Time with Bill Maher
  • * Saturday Night Live
  • Game Change
  • * '
  • * Hatfields & McCoys
  • * Hemingway & Gellhorn
  • * Luther
  • * Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia
    • Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
  • The Amazing Race '
  • * Dancing with the Stars
  • * Project Runway
  • * So You Think You Can Dance
  • * Top Chef
  • * The Voice''

    • Acting

    Lead performances

    Supporting performances

    Hosting

    Directing

    Writing

    Most major nominations

    ;By network
    ;By program
    ;By network
    ;By program
    ;Notes

    Presenters

    The awards were presented by the following:
    NameRole

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    Introducer of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series winner Jimmy Fallon
    and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series winner Kathy Bates

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
    Presenter of the award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
    Presenter of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    		Presenters of the awards for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
    and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    Introducer of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series winner Jeremy Davies
    and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series winner Martha Plimpton

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

    		Presenter of the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
    Presenter of the awards for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
    and Outstanding Variety Series
    Presenter of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
    Presenter of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

    		Presenters of the award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special
    and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

    		Presenters of the awards for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special
    and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
    Presenter of the award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
    Presenter of the award for Outstanding Drama Series
    Presenter of the award for Outstanding Comedy Series

    In Memoriam

    Before the recorded segment, Ron Howard presented a tribute to Andy Griffith.
    The people tributed in the segment included:
    The ceremony, which was televised by ABC on September 23, 2012, was watched by 13.26 million viewers. The event's red carpet proceedings were watched by 5.63 million.